WASHINGTON—Saying his constituents were 9-1 opposed to intervening in Syria, Rep. Danny Davis of Chicago issued a statement Tuesday indicating he is “strongly leaning to a NO vote” on military strikes there.

Davis, a Democat in his ninth term in Congress, put “no” in capital letters in the statement.

In his statement, Davis noted that he has been and remained a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama. “However my first responsibility as a member of Congress is to represent the interests and views of my constituents,” he said.

Talking about people who have reached out to him in calls, emails, letters and in other ways, Davis said they were “overwhelmingly opposed to U.S. military intervention of any kind.”

He added:

“They are concerned about the morality of such action, they are concerned about the legality of such action, they are concerned about the loss of life resulting from such action, they are concerned about the effectiveness, or lack of effectiveness, of such action, they are concerned about such action involving us more deeply in the civil war in Syria, they are concerned about what follow-on conflict such action might trigger, they are concerned about sabotaging a possible agreement with Iran on nuclear weapons, they are concerned about the drawing resources and focus from critical immediate problems here at home.

“I share all of those concerns and more.”

He said he would continue to listen to the president’s statements and constituents’ views as the debate ensues. The president is to address the nation on Syria at 8 p.m. Chicago time.